Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1887-08-27

and; breathe tho fresh mir; fplnnge deeper into;
Isbusnesslns No. There ..,sas q minute when:
Observation-Disclosures tho wneeSE til
tie night perh aps IN syous, place
perhaps along the street--and he breathed5
something into your soul that gave peace,
rest, infinite quiet, SO that you could take out
tho photograph OF the departed one and look
into tho eyes and the facc OF tho dear one,
and say: at is oil right; she Is better off;
would not cell her back. Lord, l THINK
thee that thou hast comforted my poor
heart.n
There are Christian parents here who are
willing to testify to tho power OF this Gospel
to comfort. Your son had just graduated
from school or college and was going into
business, and the Lord. took him Or your
daughter had Just graduated from the young
ladies' seminary and you thought sue was
going to be useful woman and OF long life;
but the Lord took her and you were tempted
to say: Gall this culture Of twenty years for
nothingv Or the little child caIne home
from school with the hot fever that stopped
not for the ngonized prayer or for tho skill
full physician, and the little child was taken.
Or the babe was lifted out OF your arms by
some quick epidemic, and you stood wonder
ing why God ever gavo you that child at all,
If so soon he WINS to take 1t nwny. And yet
you are not repining, you nre not fretful, you
are not fighting against God.
What hos enabled you TO stand all the
triali "Oh," you say, Il took tho medicine
that Col gayo my sick soul. In my distress
threw myself at the feet of sympathizing
God: and when was too wenk to pray or to
look up he breathed into ME peace that l
think must he the foretastc Of TINT heaven
where there is neither tear. nor O farewell,
nor a grave Come, all we who have been
out to the grave to weep -there-conie, all We
comforted souls, get up off your knees. Is
there no power in this Gospel to soothe the
hearth Is there no power In this religion to
quiet the worst paroxysm Of grief There
comes I'D an answer from comforted widow
hood, and orphannge and childlessnees, soy
ing: "Aye aye, we are witnessed"
Again, remark that we are witnesses OF
the fact that religion hos power to give COM
posurc In the last moment shall never for
get the first time I confronted death. We
went across the cornfelds In the country. l
was led by my fathers hand and we came to
the farm house where tho bereavement hal
come, and we saw the crowd of wagons and
carriages; but there was ono carriage that
especially attracted my boyish attention, and
it had black plumes ] said: @What's that3
what's thati Why those black tassels at the
top7e and after 1t was explained to Inc, was
lifted up to look upon the bright face OF an
aged Christian woman, who three days before
had parted In triumph. The whole scene
made IN impression never forgot
49, md In orr 1ay e4hOrfQt{OnS
we are very apt, when we want to hiring Illus
tretions Of dying triumph, to go back to some
distinguished personnge-to John Knox or
Harriet Newell. But want you for Wit
neSses.
want to know If you have ever seen any
thing to make you believe that tho religion OF
Christ can give composure In the final hour.
Now, in the courts, attorney, jury and judge
will never admit mere hearsay. They de-
mand that tho witness must have seen With
his own eyes, or heard with his own ears, and
so am critical in my examination OF You
now, and want to know whether you have
seen or heard anything that makes you be-
lieve that the religion Of Christ gives comfort
in the final hour.
"Oh, yes" you say, u saw my father and
mother depart. There was great difference
In their deathbedh. Standing by the one we
felt moro vereration. By the other there was
more tenderness Before the one you bowed
perhaps in awe. In the other case you felt us
il you would like to go along With her. How
did they feel in that last hour3 How did they
seem to act2 Were they very much fright
eneda Did they take hold of this world with
both hands as though they did not want to
give it up? "Oh, no." you say; mo, remenl-
Der US though il were yesterday; She had
kind word for us all, and there were few
mementoes distributed among the children.
and then she told us how kind we must be to
our father in his loneliness, and then she
kissed us goodby and went asleep as child in
cradle.n
What made her so composed7 Natural
courage7 "No," you say; "mother was very
nervous When the carriage inclined to the
side Of the road she would cry out. She was
always rather weakly What, then, gave
her composurei Was it because sue did not
care much for you and the pang of parting
was not greati "Oh," you say, "she showered
upon US O wealth Of affection; 10 mother ever
loved her children more than mother loved
us. She showed it by the way she nursed us
when we were sick, and she toiled for Us until
her strength gave out" What, then, was 1t
that gave her composure i'll the lost hourf
Do not hide it, Be frank and let me know.
aOh,n you say, ut was because she was 30
GOOD. Size made tie Lord her portion, end
She had faith that she would go straight to
glory, and that we should all meet her at last
at the foot of the throne"
Here are people who say: II saw Chris
10 kv;,, ,o6 ND
some one else: II saw Christian sister die,
and she triumphed." Some one else will say:
~ saw Christian daughter die and she.
triumphed." Come, all ye who have seen
the last moments of Christian, and give
testimony in this cause on trial. Uncover
your heads, put your hand on the old family
Bible from which they used to read the
promises, and promise III the presence OF
high heaven that you will tell the truth, the
whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
With what you have seen with your
own eyes, and from what you have
heard with your own ears, Is there power IN
, this Gospel to give Guinness and triumph in
the last exigencyi The response comes from
all sides, from young, and old, and middle
aged: "We are witnessesIn
You see. my friends, have not put before
you an abstraction, or a chimera, or anything
like guess work. I present you afidavits of
the best men and women, living and dead
Two witnesses in court viii establish fact
Here are not two witnesses but thousands OF
witnesses-on earth millions OF witnesses, and
in heaven great multitude Of witnesses that
| no man can number, testifying that there Is
power in this religion to convert the soul, to
give comfort in trouble, and to afford COM
posure in the last hour.
If ten men should come to you when you
are sick with appalling sickness, and say
they had tho same sickness, and took
certain medicine, and 1t cured them, you
would probably take it. Now, suppose ten
other men should came up and say: we
don't believe there is anything in TINT medi-
MT tv-fx.